Spotlight on Marist Alumni – Giselle Canko:

Giselle Canko ‘20

Giselle Canko feels likes Wikipedia page when people ask her where she’s from. As a first-generation Czech American who moved around a lot as a child, Giselle went to high school outside of New Orleans, and is currently living in South Florida. 

She now works at a textile company, where the company’s legacy began with Italian founders. Giselle feels fortunate to explore the cultures of Haitians, Jamaicans, Jewish, Cubans, and other Caribbean cultures through her work. 

Giselle was kind enough to answer some of our questions about her time at Marist Italy, and these are her answers: 

Giselle studied Art History alongside several courses in Fashion. She wrote, “Living in a new country as a young adult has many challenges that vary from student to student. I had to adapt not only to Italian culture but how to find work in another country, build healthy relationships, learn boundaries and self-worth, and believe in impossible dreams-and keep going. I am beyond blessed that I had the environment of my professors, mentors, and peers to have the ability to fail and succeed several times. The comfort of the world is that your oyster only goes as long as you know you are the pearl.”

When asked about her favorite part of living in Italy, she quickly responded by saying “the food!” 

Giselle went on to say, “Living in Italy influenced me on serious world topics such as healthcare, educational rights, and other serious matters, as well as lifestyle choices. I love fashion and feel privy to dress up always, embrace others often, and always make every meal with the main Italian ingredient- love. I am not Italian yet -the culture’s take on life to live with the dolce vita, passion, and dedication.” 

Everyday, Giselle felt like she learned something new. Whether it was new Italian verbs or new bus routes, the profound beauty of a new foreign environment forced her to grow each day. 

When asked about her favorite place in Florence, Giselle beautifully wrote, “My favorite place is not in the center but in the Fiesole/Settigano/Maiano outskirts. While overlooking rolling hills and wildflowers, I worked with Italian children who taught me more than I could ever teach them. I learned the gentle nature and comfort of daily coffee in the ancient backdrop. In these beautiful hills, I grieved for a classmate who passed, and how to recover with the knowledge that time is sacred. In the hills that the infamous duomo is laced with, I feel protected in the world with magnitude of possibilities.”

Although Giselle has no crystal ball, she hopes her future will entail more adventures of living abroad, having children of her own, and becoming a mentor for other first-generation college-bound students.